diff --git a/install.py b/install.py
index fad91a913..8f884bc3f 100644
--- a/install.py
+++ b/install.py
@@ -12201,8 +12201,9 @@ def _view_checking(state: TuiState, width: int, height: int) -> tuple:
     if state.manifest is None:
         lines.append(f"Getting the file list... {elapsed}")
     else:
-        files = len(state.manifest.get("files", []))
-        lines += [f"File list: {_plural(files, 'file')}.", _reading_line(state, elapsed)]
+        # Not its count: the check counts the files it checks, which the
+        # plan then gives (8179 after "File list: 8169 files").
+        lines += ["File list received.", _reading_line(state, elapsed)]
     return ("Checking", _compose(state, width, height, lines, []),
             ("Ctrl-C Quit", "B/Esc Back"))
 
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/tui/checking-120x40.txt b/tests/fixtures/tui/checking-120x40.txt
index 197711197..2f2a29e8f 100644
--- a/tests/fixtures/tui/checking-120x40.txt
+++ b/tests/fixtures/tui/checking-120x40.txt
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
  RetroArch: ~/.config/retroarch/system
 
- File list: 5 files.
+ File list received.
  Reading the files already in the folder... 0:04
 
 
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/tui/checking-40x12.txt b/tests/fixtures/tui/checking-40x12.txt
index 362bc5cb0..c68b6638e 100644
--- a/tests/fixtures/tui/checking-40x12.txt
+++ b/tests/fixtures/tui/checking-40x12.txt
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
  RetroArch: ~/.config/retroarch/system
 
- File list: 5 files.
+ File list received.
  Reading the files already in the
    folder... 0:04
 
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/tui/checking-40x15.txt b/tests/fixtures/tui/checking-40x15.txt
index 35fcf8822..e6bd727e9 100644
--- a/tests/fixtures/tui/checking-40x15.txt
+++ b/tests/fixtures/tui/checking-40x15.txt
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
  RetroArch: ~/.config/retroarch/system
 
- File list: 5 files.
+ File list received.
  Reading the files already in the
    folder... 0:04
 
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/tui/checking-80x24.txt b/tests/fixtures/tui/checking-80x24.txt
index 21e561008..d5b190cb1 100644
--- a/tests/fixtures/tui/checking-80x24.txt
+++ b/tests/fixtures/tui/checking-80x24.txt
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
  RetroArch: ~/.config/retroarch/system
 
- File list: 5 files.
+ File list received.
  Reading the files already in the folder... 0:04
 
 
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/tui/route-evmapy.txt b/tests/fixtures/tui/route-evmapy.txt
index 179fa02f6..1e46aebf1 100644
--- a/tests/fixtures/tui/route-evmapy.txt
+++ b/tests/fixtures/tui/route-evmapy.txt
@@ -381,7 +381,7 @@
 
  RetroArch: ~/.config/retroarch/system
 
- File list: 5 files.
+ File list received.
  Reading the files already in the
    folder... 0:04
 
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@
 
  RetroArch: ~/.config/retroarch/system
 
- File list: 5 files.
+ File list received.
  Reading the files already in the
    folder... 0:04
 
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@
 
  RetroArch: ~/.config/retroarch/system
 
- File list: 5 files.
+ File list received.
  Reading the files already in the folder... 0:04
 
 
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/tui/route-gptokeyb.txt b/tests/fixtures/tui/route-gptokeyb.txt
index 946460274..5fc8c13d6 100644
--- a/tests/fixtures/tui/route-gptokeyb.txt
+++ b/tests/fixtures/tui/route-gptokeyb.txt
@@ -381,7 +381,7 @@
 
  RetroArch: ~/.config/retroarch/system
 
- File list: 5 files.
+ File list received.
  Reading the files already in the
    folder... 0:04
 
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@
 
  RetroArch: ~/.config/retroarch/system
 
- File list: 5 files.
+ File list received.
  Reading the files already in the
    folder... 0:04
 
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@
 
  RetroArch: ~/.config/retroarch/system
 
- File list: 5 files.
+ File list received.
  Reading the files already in the folder... 0:04
 
 
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/tui/route-gptokeyb_muxterm.txt b/tests/fixtures/tui/route-gptokeyb_muxterm.txt
index 946460274..5fc8c13d6 100644
--- a/tests/fixtures/tui/route-gptokeyb_muxterm.txt
+++ b/tests/fixtures/tui/route-gptokeyb_muxterm.txt
@@ -381,7 +381,7 @@
 
  RetroArch: ~/.config/retroarch/system
 
- File list: 5 files.
+ File list received.
  Reading the files already in the
    folder... 0:04
 
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@
 
  RetroArch: ~/.config/retroarch/system
 
- File list: 5 files.
+ File list received.
  Reading the files already in the
    folder... 0:04
 
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@
 
  RetroArch: ~/.config/retroarch/system
 
- File list: 5 files.
+ File list received.
  Reading the files already in the folder... 0:04
 
 
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/tui/route-keys.txt b/tests/fixtures/tui/route-keys.txt
index f2bed0ac5..5d7e60d8a 100644
--- a/tests/fixtures/tui/route-keys.txt
+++ b/tests/fixtures/tui/route-keys.txt
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@
 
  RetroArch: ~/.config/retroarch/system
 
- File list: 5 files.
+ File list received.
  Reading the files already in the
    folder... 0:04
 
@@ -340,7 +340,7 @@
 
  RetroArch: ~/.config/retroarch/system
 
- File list: 5 files.
+ File list received.
  Reading the files already in the
    folder... 0:04
 
@@ -356,7 +356,7 @@
 
  RetroArch: ~/.config/retroarch/system
 
- File list: 5 files.
+ File list received.
  Reading the files already in the folder... 0:04
 
 
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/tui/route-miyoo.txt b/tests/fixtures/tui/route-miyoo.txt
index 99103df10..4b8e2e4aa 100644
--- a/tests/fixtures/tui/route-miyoo.txt
+++ b/tests/fixtures/tui/route-miyoo.txt
@@ -381,7 +381,7 @@
 
  RetroArch: ~/.config/retroarch/system
 
- File list: 5 files.
+ File list received.
  Reading the files already in the
    folder... 0:04
 
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@
 
  RetroArch: ~/.config/retroarch/system
 
- File list: 5 files.
+ File list received.
  Reading the files already in the
    folder... 0:04
 
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@
 
  RetroArch: ~/.config/retroarch/system
 
- File list: 5 files.
+ File list received.
  Reading the files already in the folder... 0:04
 
 
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/tui/route-muxterm.txt b/tests/fixtures/tui/route-muxterm.txt
index 7c360043f..aa7509a7c 100644
--- a/tests/fixtures/tui/route-muxterm.txt
+++ b/tests/fixtures/tui/route-muxterm.txt
@@ -381,7 +381,7 @@
 
  RetroArch: ~/.config/retroarch/system
 
- File list: 5 files.
+ File list received.
  Reading the files already in the
    folder... 0:04
 
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@
 
  RetroArch: ~/.config/retroarch/system
 
- File list: 5 files.
+ File list received.
  Reading the files already in the
    folder... 0:04
 
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@
 
  RetroArch: ~/.config/retroarch/system
 
- File list: 5 files.
+ File list received.
  Reading the files already in the folder... 0:04